Photo by John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
NANDINA NANDINA DOMESTICA
Nandina is a small, semi-evergreen-to-evergreen mats of new plant populations. Nandina habitually shrub that is native to China and Japan. It earned the forms dense thickets where it establishes and successfully nicknames sacred bamboo and heavenly bamboo, due displaces many native plant species. Nandina plants to its stout, upright form, unique cane-like stems and its produce large amounts of seed that are lightweight and stalk-like leaves. It was first introduced into the United easily transported by wind and water. Many species States in 1804 as an ornamental plant and quickly of wildlife facilitate its spread and move seed through became popular with homeowners and gardeners and consumption. the landscaping industry for its attractive bright red berries in the fall, pleasant white flower display in the Management spring and its lustrous, dark evergreen leaves. To help prevent the spread, do not plant nandina. Instead, select native alternatives, such as red buckeye Identification (Aesculus pavia), beautyberry (Calicarpa Americana), witch Nandina is a small, upright shrub that grows up to 8 hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea feet and has compound leaves. Each leaf has three 1- to 2-inch leaflets. The main stem of nandina has distinct, overlapping leaf sheaths, reminiscent of bamboo, hence the nickname, sacred bamboo. The bark on mature stems is light brown and has long, shallow, vertical furrows. Large panicles of attractive, tiny, white flowers bloom in spring. Each growing season nandina produces clusters of green berries that mature into attractive, vibrant red berries in the fall. The berries are considered toxic to animals, including livestock, cats, birds and likely some other domestic and wild animals, but they are non- toxic to humans. The berries contain plant compounds such as cyanide that break down to hydrogen cyanide, which is the toxic element present if ingested.
How it spreads Nandina thrives in heavy shade and commonly invades riparian areas along creeks and rivers that offer ample shade and moist soils but can also survive in dappled sunlit areas. Nandina can also easily establish along forest edges and roadsides. It grows at a rapid rate and can quickly spread through vegetative sprouts, also known as sucker sprouts. Rhizomes, or false roots, are Nandina produces green berries each growing season that turn red in the fall. (Photo by Chris Evans, University of Illinois, used to help quickly colonize an area, forming thick Bugwood.org) Photo by John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
NANDINA NANDINA DOMESTICA quercifolia), possumhaw (Ilex decidua), or spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Other attractive, non-native alternative species include Fortune’s tea olive (Osmanthus x fortune), fragrant tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans), azalea species (Rhododendron spp.), loropetalum white and red cultivars (Loropetalum chinensis), or doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum tomentosum).
Although nandina is still commonly planted ornamentally, there are several sterile cultivars and hybrids available that do not produce seed or contribute to invasive spread. Some of the fruitless nandina cultivars with lovely spring flowering and attractive fall foliage include: Fire Power, Gulfstream, Nana Atropurpurea, Obsession, Woods Dwarf and Sienna Tiny, white flowers bloom on nandinas each spring. (Photo by Sunrise. James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org)
be taken to ensure that all plant parts are disposed of Non-sterile nandina plants already existing in the properly and unintentional seed spread is avoided. After landscape should be removed, and residual stumps initial herbicidal treatment, subsequent sprouts can easily should be treated with herbicide, such as glyphosate be removed with hand pruners followed by another or triclopyr, to prevent reproductive sprouting. When herbicide application. Nandina seedlings that arise from removing plants with seed present, extra care should suckers and rhizomes can be easily controlled by hand- pulling. However, entire plants musts be removed, or residual root fragments will likely regenerate new trees.
Contact information If you would like more information on nandina, contact David Jenkins at the SC Forestry Commission at [email protected] or contact the Clemson Invasive Species Program at https://www.clemson.edu/public/ regulatory/plant-protection/invasive/.
For information on how you can combat invasive plants in your community visit the South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant website at https://www.se-eppc.org/ Each nandina leaf has three 1- to 2-inch leaflets. (Photo by James southcarolina/ or send an email to southcarolinaeppc@ H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org) gmail.com.